Low pressure localized hyperbaric oxygen chamber

ABSTRACT

A portable chamber is provided which permits the localized treatment, with low pressure oxygen, of non-healing ulcerations or lacerations of the body particularly the leg. In the case of a leg chamber, a sealing unit is adapted to be sealed to the patient&#39;&#39;s leg above the ulceration. A transparent sleeve is adapted to detachably connect with the sealing unit and a sole plate which combines to effectively enclose the affected part of the leg within the chamber about the ulceration. An oxygen inlet connection is provided into the chamber with a manometer being employed to permit monitoring of chamber pressure and a pressure release valve being employed to permit adjustment of chamber pressure. A support may also be provided on the chamber exterior for purposes of preventing undesirable tilting or rolling of the chamber when sealed to the patient&#39;&#39;s leg.

United States Patent 11 1 Fischer 11] 3,744,491 July 10,1973

1 1 LOW PRESSURE LOCALIZED HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CHAMBER Primary ExaminerLawren ce W. Trapp [75] Inventor: Boguslav H. Fischer, New York, AtmmeyAmh ny Demo et N.Y. [73] Assignee: Boguslav H. Fischer, New York,

NY. [57] ABSTRACT [22 filed: 1972 A portable chamber is provided which permits the 10- [21] Appl. No.: 219,589 calized treatment, with low pressure oxygen, of non- 1 1 healin ulcerations or lacerations of the bod articul g YP Rained U 8 App canon Data larly the leg. In the case of a leg chamber, a sealing unit [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 858,940, Sept. 18, 1969. is adapted to be Sealed to the patients leg above the ceration. A transparent sleeve is adapted to detachably [22] 38.81. 122132133 connect with the Sealing unit and a Sole plate which I d 0 :2 combines to effectively enclose the affected part of the 1 le 0 leg within the chamber about the ulceration. An oxygen inlet connection is provided into the chamber with a manometer being employed to permit monitoring of [56] References cued chamber pressure and a pressure release valve being UNITED STATES PATENTS employed to permit adjustment of chamber pressure. A 2,134,646 10/1938 Sauzedde 128/38 support may also be provided on the chamber exterior 2,113,253 4/1938 G ay 128/38 for purposes of preventing undesirable tilting or rolling 2,142,639 1/1939 Ememonw [28/38 of the chamber'when sealed to the patients leg. 2,235,138 3/1941 Billetter 128/38 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 114,443 12/1941 Australia 128/184 AZ 7 L .1.

r 1 C i M LOW PRESSURE LOCALIZED I'IYPERBARICv OXYGEN CHAMBER This is a continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 858,940 filed Sept. 18, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l-Ieretofore high pressure hyperbaric chambers have been proposed and at least two are presently in limited use. The first is a relatively large walk-in type of unit which utilizes high pressure air. This chamber is extremely expensive and requires highly skilled technicians to operate it. The physician and technicians treating the patient are inevitably exposed to environmental dangers that may be present in or incident to the chamber. The second type is a single patient chamber in which the patient is entirely immersed in high pressure oxygen within the unit. Once again, this type of unit is relatively expensive and also requires skilled operators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of this invention to provide a low pressure hyperbaric oxygen chamber which does not require skilled operators or, for. that matter, any appreciable amount of attention while in operation.

Another object is to provide a chamber of this type adapted for the localized treatment of ulcerations which in comparison to the above-mentioned walk-in type and patient sized type units heretofore proposed is less than 0.1% and 1%, respectively, in cost. A further object is to provide a unit of the foregoing type which only treats the affected area and thereby does not submit the patient, physician or attending operators to the hazards of the environment of high pressure oxy-. gen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chamber of this invention associated with part of a patients leg which is to be treated;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the chamber clearly showing the component parts thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I In the drawings the low pressure hyperbaric oxygen chamber is shown with the lower portion of a patient's leg 12 for the localized treatment of a nonhealing type of ulceration through exposure to low pressure oxygen. The types of ulcerations which have been successfully treated in accordance with this invention are associated with traumatic soft tissue wounds, chronic venous stasis and heel decubiti, among others. The chamber 10 is made up of a leg sealing unit 14, transparent sleeve unit 16 and sole plate 18.

The sealing unit 14 is adapted to seal the chamber to the patients leg. Towards this end, the sealing unit 14 includes a circular collar 20 formed of relatively rigid material and a flexible apron 22 extending from the collar and sealed thereto in any suitable fashion. This apron 22 may be formed from a vinyl or other suitable resin material and may either be sterilizable or of a disposable variety for replacement by a fresh apron following the prescribed use. The apron 22 may be conveniently sealably and detachably secured in an accommodating circular recess 24 in the reduced boss 26 of the collar 20. A stretchable or elastic leg band 28 conforms the free end 30 of the apron 22 about the associated portion of the leg 12 in effecting the desired sealing relationship of the chamber with the associated upper leg surfaces. In a successful application of this invention, approximately a 2 inches wide neoprene band was employed, with Velcro fastening strips at the ends of the band being used to secure the bands in place about the apron 22.

The flexible sleeve unit 16 is adapted to be clamped or otherwise connected with the sealing unit 14 in an essentially sealed manner. Accordingly, sleeve unit 16 includes a companion collar 32 adapted to mate with collar 20 and adapted to telescopically engage with the outer surfaces of the boss 26. The collars are adapted to be maintained in this relationship by means of a series of clamps or latches 34 designed to permit relatively simple and quick disconnect of the collars. The flexible sleeve 36 extends from the accommodating recess 38 of collar 32 over the reduced collar boss 40 and istapered to provide an increasing cross-sectional configuration of somewhat elliptical proportions until it becomes sealingly engaged with an enlarged collar 42 of corresponding configuration. The sleeve 36 is preferably transparent in order that the afflicted or ulcerated condition may be observed. The sleeve may also be sterilizable or of a disposable nature in which case it would be relatively simple to disengage the sleeve 36 from the spaced collars 32 and 42 in order that a fresh sleeve may be substituted.

Similarly, collar 32 is also provided with a fitting 44 for couplingwith a flexible hose extending from an oxygen supply source. This fitting will, of course, include a passageway extending through the collar 32 in communication with an aligned passage in collar 20 to permit oxygen to be introduced into the interior of the chamber 10. i

The enlarged collar 42 is provided with an oxygen discharge opening controlled by a pressure release valve 46 through which the expended oxygen is adapted to be discharged at the selected low pressures for sharing the desired chamber pressures. A fitting 48 also having a passageway communicating with the chamber interior is adapted to be connected with a monometer (not shown) for monitoring chamber pressure. In order to ensure the proper orientation of the chamber relative to the patients leg, support feet 50 extend integrally from the collar 42 substantially as shown.

Sole plate 18 is adapted to be detachably connected to collar 42 to permit access to the wound while the leg is in the chamber 10. For this purpose a series of latches or clamps 52 may be employed. The plate 18 may include a substantially rigid collar 54 corresponding in cross-sectional configuration to collar 42; at the same time it may be provided with accommodating recess 56 for receipt of membrane 58 which may be transparent and flexible if desired and sterilizable or disposable in order that a fresh membrane may be substituted.

Where desired or necessary, a leg support 60 may be employed to orient the leg 12 proper within the chamber 10 and prevent the lesion from contacting the interior surfaces of the chamber.

With respect to the oxygen supplied under low pressure, a humidified oxygen source may be employed, together with a flow meter to ensure proper and adequate oxygen flow into the chamber.

In fitting and assembling the chamber to the leg, sealing unit 14 is disconnected from the sleeve unit 16 by releasing the three compression latches 34 coupling collars 20 and 32 to one another. The sealing unit 14 is then slipped over the lower leg placing it at or just below thelevel of the patients knee. Suitable indicia may be utilized on the sealing unit 14 to assure proper orientation of the chamber 10 on the'leg. The slack, if any, in the apron 22 is taken up by introducing pleatlike folds along the terminal or free end 30; and the elastic leg band 28 is wrapped around this apron end 30. Experience has shown that this band should contact both the terminal end 30 of the apron 22 and at the same time the adjacent surfaces of the patients skin about the periphery of the leg. Thereafter, the tapered chamber sleeve unit 16 is slipped over the lower leg and fastened to the sealing unit 14 by means of the latches 34. Through the employment of the selective indicating means as discussed in the above, the oxygen entry passages will be aligned in the respective collars 20 and 32. The leg support 60 may then be introduced into the chamber by removing the sole plate 18. The sole plate 18 is then fastened to the sleeve unit 16 by means of the latches 52. Once again, suitable indicatingmeans may be employed to assure proper orientation on the sole plate 18 with respect to the sleeve unit 16. Thereafter a mercury or aneroid monometer (not shown) may be attached to the fitting 40 through a similarly interposed length of tubing. The oxygen source (not shown) may now be connected to the fitting 44 through an intermediate tube.

The oxygen chamber is then placed in operation by adjusting the pressure release valve 46' to obtain a selected low oxygen pressure within the chamber. The

valve controlling the supply of oxygen from the source is then opened to correspond to the selected oxygen flow.

It is preferred that pressure of the oxygen within the chamber be maintained at approximately 22 mm. of Hg. Pressures below 22 mm. Hg. significantly impair the therapeutic effect whereas pressures somewhat higher than mm. Hg. may cause ischemia due to the compression of the capillaries near the surface of the skin. Recommended practice is that oxygen regimen be used continuously for eight hours for each 24 hour period.

In order todiscontinue the operation of the oxygen chamber 10 and dismantle the assembled units, the oxygen supply valve is initially closed. The monometer and oxygen supply tubing are disconnected. Thereafter the sole plate is removed and the enlarged end of the sleeve unit 16 is pushed up over the leg support 60. This support, if of the inflatable variety is deflated and removed. The latches 34 are opened to facilitate the complete removal of the sleeve unit 16. The band 28 is unfastened and removed to permit removal of the sealing unit 14.

Thus, the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively obtained. Although a single somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in nosense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A low pressure hyperbaric oxygen chamber for 10- calized treatment of wounds and ulcerations on a selected part of a patient comprising;

a unitary sleeve unit adapted to encircle said body portion and having a first and a second end;

a plate;

first means detachably connecting and sealing the plate to said first end of the sleeve unit;

a sealing-unit comprising a flexible apron adapted to encircle said selected part and having a free end directed inwardly of the sleeve unit;

second means detachably connecting and sealing the sealing unit to the second end of the sleeve unit;

third means comprising an elastic band forplacement about the free end of the apron so as to overlap said free end and said selected part whereby said free end is sealed to surfaces of said part; and, oxygen atmosphere entry means for subjecting for interior of the chamber to an oxygen atmosphere.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sleeve unit comprises a sleeve of substantially transparent material tapering from a substantially smaller cross-sectional configuration at said second means to a substantially larger configuration at said first means.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a first collar on said sleeve unit and a second collar on the plate adapted to meet with one another in sealing relationship and latches for detachably connecting the collars to one another.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein support feet form part of said second collar.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second means includes a collar on said sleeve unit and a collar on the sealing unit adapted to mate with one another and latches for detachably connecting said collars in sealing relationship.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the third means includes fastening'means on the band for adjusting the extent of compressive forces exerted by the band on the engaged surfaces of said selected part.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the oxygen atmosphere entry means includes fitting means at the second means having a passageway communicating with the interior of the chamber, said fitting means being adapted for coupling with a source of oxygen at a low pressure whereby such low pressure oxygen may be introduced into the interior of the chamber.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein a pressure release valve is at the first means for controlling the pressure within the chamber of the oxygen and for providing an exit passage for oxygen within the chamber.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein a fitting is provided at the first means having a passageway communicating with the interior of the chamber, said fitting means being adapted for coupling with a monometer to monitor the pressure of oxygen within the chamber.

t I t i i 

1. A low pressure hyperbaric oxygen chamber for localized treatment of wounds and ulcerations on a selected part of a patient comprising: a unitary sleeve unit adapted to encircle said body portion and having a first and a second end; a plate; first means detachably connecting and sealing the plate to said first end of the sleeve unit; a sealing unit comprising a flexible apron adapted to encircle said selected part and having a free end directed inwardly of the sleeve unit; second means detachably connecting and sealing the sealing unit to the second enD of the sleeve unit; third means comprising an elastic band for placement about the free end of the apron so as to overlap said free end and said selected part whereby said free end is sealed to surfaces of said part; and, oxygen atmosphere entry means for subjecting for interior of the chamber to an oxygen atmosphere.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sleeve unit comprises a sleeve of substantially transparent material tapering from a substantially smaller cross-sectional configuration at said second means to a substantially larger configuration at said first means.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a first collar on said sleeve unit and a second collar on the plate adapted to meet with one another in sealing relationship and latches for detachably connecting the collars to one another.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein support feet form part of said second collar.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second means includes a collar on said sleeve unit and a collar on the sealing unit adapted to mate with one another and latches for detachably connecting said collars in sealing relationship.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the third means includes fastening means on the band for adjusting the extent of compressive forces exerted by the band on the engaged surfaces of said selected part.
 7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the oxygen atmosphere entry means includes fitting means at the second means having a passageway communicating with the interior of the chamber, said fitting means being adapted for coupling with a source of oxygen at a low pressure whereby such low pressure oxygen may be introduced into the interior of the chamber.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein a pressure release valve is at the first means for controlling the pressure within the chamber of the oxygen and for providing an exit passage for oxygen within the chamber.
 9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein a fitting is provided at the first means having a passageway communicating with the interior of the chamber, said fitting means being adapted for coupling with a monometer to monitor the pressure of oxygen within the chamber. 